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Larrabee State Park |
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Park Overview
 Larrabee State
Park is a 2,683-acre camping park with 8,100 feet of saltwater shoreline on
Samish Bay near Bellingham in northwest Washington. The park features two
freshwater lakes, coves and tidelands. Sunsets are gorgeous. A variety of
non-motorized, multiple-use trails wind through the park.
A vehicle parking permit is no longer required for day visits.
Park Hours Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk.
The park is open year round for camping and day use. Some campsites are closed
in winter.
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Driving Directions Located six miles south of Bellingham, Wash., on the
state's northwestern side.
From I-5 soutbound:
Take exit #250, and turn right onto Fairhaven Pkwy. Go to second stoplight. Turn
left on SR 11/Chuckanut Dr. Stay left at next stoplight, and drive six miles to
park entrance.
From I-5 northbound:
Take exit #231. Turn right onto SR 11/Chuckanut Dr., and drive north 14 miles to
park entrance.
NOTE: Chuckanut Dr. (SR 11) is a narrow, winding road. Large RVs should go to
I-5, exit #250 for easiest access to the park.
Alternate route for large RVs or vehicles towing trailers:
Stay on northbound I-5 to Bellingham, then take exit #250 and turn left onto
Fairhaven Pkwy. Go to second stoplight and turn left onto SR 11/Chuckanut Dr.
Stay left at next stoplight and go six miles to park entrance.
Picnic Facilities Two picnic shelters are reservable by calling (888) CAMPOUT
or (888) 226-7688. One shelter has a sink, each has electrical outlets, barbecue
grill and eight covered picnic tables. The shelters accommodate 50 to 100
people. In addition to the picnic shelters, the park provides 70 unsheltered
picnic tables available first-come, first-served.
Activities
| Trails |
Water Activities |
Other |
- 15 mi. Hiking Trails
- 13 mi. Bike Trails
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- Fishing (freshwater)
- Boating (saltwater)
- 1 boat ramp (saltwater)
- Diving
- Fishing (saltwater)
- Clamming
- Crabbing
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- 1 Amphitheater
- Beachcombing
- Bird Watching
- 1 Fire Circle
- Interpretive Activities
- Mountain Biking
- Sailboarding
- Wildlife Viewing
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Visitors may enjoy fishing on Fragrance Lake and Lost Lake on Chuckanut
Mountain, accessible by hiking trails.
The old roadbed of the Mount Vernon-to-Bellingham Interurban Railway runs
parallel to Hwy. 11, north through the park and on to Bellingham.
Boating FeaturesOn high-tide boat launch is available but may be inaccessible
to launching and retrieving watercraft at low-tide cycles.
A daily permit is available for watercraft launching and trailer dumping at the
park for $5.
Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at
region offices, online,
and at parks when staff is available.
Featured Creatures
| Mammals |
Birds |
Fish & Sea Life |
- Bobcats
- Chipmunks
- Coyotes
- Deer or Elk
- Foxes
- Otters
- Rabbits
- Raccoons
- Skunks
- Squirrels
- Weasels
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- Chukars
- Crows or Ravens
- Doves or Pigeons
- Ducks
- Eagles
- Geese
- Grouse
- Gulls
- Hawks
- Herons
- Hummingbirds
- Jays
- Ospreys
- Owls
- Pheasants
- Quail
- Woodpeckers
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- Clams
- Crabs
- Octopuses
- Sea Birds
- Sea Cucumbers
- Shellfish
- Shrimp
- Starfish
- Whales
- Bass
- Perch
- Salmon
- Steelhead
- Trout
- Walleye
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Environmental Features
| Physical Features |
Plant Life |
Special |
The park is primarily forested with
coniferous trees and dense woodland vegetation. It has
marshlands, wetlands, streams, lakes and Chuckanut Mountain. The
area is known for chuckanut sandstone.
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- Cedar
- Douglas Fir
- Hemlock
- Yew
- Alder
- Apple
- Ash
- Birch
- Cherry
- Maple
- Daisy
- Rhododendron
- Berries
- Eel Grass
- Ferns
- Moss or Lichens
- Seaweed
- Thistle
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History In October 1915, the Larrabee family donated 20 acres of land to the
state to be made into a park. Officially named in honor of Charles Xavier
Larrabee in 1923, the area became Washington's first state park.
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